Tragedy of Hiroshima: A Message for World Peace

Udaipur, “The destruction of industrial cities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to shake the conscience of humanity even after 80 years,” remarked Dr. G.L. Menaria, Director of Takshashila Vidyapeeth and Founding President of the Global History Forum, during a symposium held to mark Hiroshima Day.

Highlighting the historical tragedy, Dr. Menaria said the nuclear devastation of these cities remains a dark chapter in human history—one that still echoes a powerful call for global peace. He warned that the modern world once again sits precariously on a powder keg of weapons and conflict, urging all to draw lessons from history.

Sharing insights into the origin of nuclear weaponry, Dr. Menaria stated that the United States was the first country to develop the atomic bomb. The idea stemmed from a letter written by renowned German physicist Albert Einstein to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 2 August 1939, now referred to as the "Letter of Conscience." This ultimately led to the bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 with a bomb nicknamed “Little Boy,” associated with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Within seconds, the vibrant city was reduced to ruins.

Before Japan could recover, a second bomb—“Fat Man,” named after US President F.D. Roosevelt—was dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, causing further unprecedented devastation.

The symposium was attended by several intellectuals, including Dr. J.K. Ojha (former Principal, Bhindar College), Dr. Ajatshatru Singh Shivrati (Secretary, Global History Forum), Dr. Meenakshi Menaria (Principal, Takshashila Vidyapeeth), Dr. Rajendranath Purohit (Rajasthan State Oriental Research Institute), Dr. G.P. Singhal, Dr. Neetu Menaria, and Dr. Ramsingh.

The event was moderated by Dr. Manoj Bhatnagar and concluded with a vote of thanks by Gunwant Singh Dewra.